In Nickerson's version, the heroine is seventeen-year-old Violet Dancey. I have read and loved several versions of Tam Lin (including Jane Yolen's beautifully illustrated retelling), so I am familiar with the story, and I was curious how author Jane Nickerson would translate the ballad to a Civil War setting. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons.The Mirk and Midnight Hour is blurbed as a retelling of the Scottish ballad of Tam Lin. Violet is an engaging character as is Thomas, and their romance is developed gently and with empathy. Of course you can see where this is going and can probably guess how the Ballad of Tam Lin comes into play in this Southern setting. They call themselves the Children of Raphtah. He tells them that he has been cared for by the tall and graceful VanZeldts, who came from Africa and practice an old and dark religion, which demands human sacrifice. On an expedition in the woods, Seeley and Violet find Thomas (the wounded Union soldier of the tale) in ruined Carter Hall. And though she's always been attracted to her handsome cousin Dorian, Violet worries about Anna Bess's flirting with him, given that her new stepmother lives in a laudanum haze and sees little of what goes on around her. Violet takes on the care and entertainment of young Seeley, who has troubling accidents after Dorian brings him to stay. Violet also has an unusual talent, to communicate with, and summon, bees.
Anna Bess's different attitude starts to change that. Though Laney (now a young mother) is also a slave, Violet does not treat her as one and avoids thinking about that part of their lives.
She also takes responsibility for her eight-year-old cousin Seeley (heir to a large property), who is sent to live with them.Īfter her mother's death, Violet was raised by a slave, Aunt Permilla, and grew up with Permilla's blood kin Laney as a close confidante and friend.
He married the widow Sluder, leaving Violet to deal with a stepmother addicted to laudanum and her spoiled daughter Anna Bess. Seventeen-year-old Violet is still grieving over the death of her beloved twin brother Rush in the war, when her father sets off to fight, after a sudden wedding. But it's new and fresh in many different ways, even aside from the paranormal element that's key to the plot. The Mirk and Midnight Hour by Jane NickersonĪt first you think The Mirk and Midnight Hour (whose title is taken from The Ballad of Tam Lin) is same old, same old - a YA historical in which a young Southern belle falls for a wounded Union soldier.
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